‘Still in a dream’: Cape Breton couple wins $1M on free lotto ticket

Deborah and Amedee Larade of Cheticamp, N.S., won $1 million from a free lottery ticket. (Atlantic Lottery)

A Cape Breton couple has won $1 million from a free lottery ticket.

Deborah and Amedee Larade of Cheticamp, N.S., took home the Gold Ball draw prize from the Lotto 6/49 draw on March 1.

“We had a free ticket we had won on the last draw that I checked, and as soon as I scanned it, the screen went white and said it was a major prize winner,” Amedee said in a news release from Atlantic Lottery. “When I saw the screen, my heart started pounding.”

Amedee then rushed home and asked Deborah to sit down so he could share the news with her.

“I could hear his voice quivering, so I asked him if I should call 911,” Deborah said. “He said ‘No, this is good news!’”

The couple doesn’t plan on retiring right away and don’t have any major plans for their winnings.

They do say it will give them financial freedom moving forward and an option to do different things.

“We’re very easy-going, but if we want to do renovations or take a trip, we’ll have the financial backup to do it,” Deborah said.

“Right now, I’m still in a dream … I feel like somebody’s going to come tap me on the shoulder and say, ‘Wake up, you’re just dreaming.’”

The Larades bought their winning ticket at the H. Cormier Petro-Canada in Cheticamp, which will receive a one per cent seller’s prize.

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